Device for contracting and expanding vehicle-rims



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

W. H. OLAWSVON. DEVICE FOR CONTRACTING AND EXPANDING VEHICLE RIMS. No.604,654.

Patented May 24, 1898'.

/N VENTOH mu E S S M T l W (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. H. OLAWSON. DEVICE FOR CONTRACTING AND EXPANDING VEEIGLE- RIMS.

No. 604,654. Patented May 24,1898;

g I L W/TNESSES J //VVEN7 O/-7 ZI/rrz/ .5 6 561105007 NITED 'ra'rissIVILLIAM H. CLAWSON a'rnivr rrrc OF ROB ROY, INDIANA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 604,654, dated May 24,1898. Application filed August 27, 1897. Serial No. 649,748. (No model.)

To (ZZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. OLAwsoN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Rob Roy, in the county of Fountain and State of Indiana,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices forContracting and Expanding Vehicle-Rims; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinve11tion,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in devices for contracting andexpanding the rims of vehicle-wheels, and its object is to provide anovel and simplified construction of device of this character wherebythe operation of setting the rim upon the spokes or removing the sametherefrom may be readily and quickly accomplished.

IVith this and other objects in View the invention consists in the novelconstructions,

combinations, and arrangements of parts hereinafter more fullydescribed, and particularly set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention, Figure 1 is aperspective view of a vehicle-wheel having my invention applied to therim thereof. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device removed. Fig. 8is a longitudinal sectional View of the expandin g-head, bearing-clamp,and attached parts, taken on the line of the screw-shaft; Fig. 4, adetail sectional view of the expanding-head, and Fig. 5 an enlargeddetail sectional view of one of the clamping-screws and socketed head.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, 1 2represent the movable arms of the rim expanding and contracting device,which are pivoted at their inner ends to a wedge-block or expanding-head3 and provided at their outer ends with a series of orifices 4. Each ofsaid arms carries a clamp 5, provided with pendent parallel clampingarms6 and a pivot-bearing 7 adapted to engage either of the orifices 1, andthreaded at its extremity to receive a nut 8 to hold it in positionthereon.

The wedge-block or expanding-head 3 is bifurcated at each end to receivethe inner ends of the expanding-arms, and the arms 9 of the bifurcationare formed with alined threaded openings 10 for the reception of apivot-bolt 11, on which the inner end of the arm is pivoted, saidpivot-bolt being provided with a screw-head 11 and having its shankthreaded at its upper and lower extremities 11.

12 designates a bearing-clamp of substantially the same construction asthe armclamps 5, but provided with a bearing-lug 13, having a threadedorifice in which operates a screw-shaft 14:. This shaft has its innerend fitted within a transverse smooth-surfaced opening 15 in thewedge-block and provided in rear thereof with a fixed abutting head orcollar 16 and a nut 16 engaging its threaded extremity, whereby saidshaft is enabled to move back and forth without disconnection from theblock and at the same time turn freely Within the opening 15. The outerend of the shaft is formed with a crank-handle 17, by which it may beoperated.

The clamps 5 12 are each provided with a clamping-screw 18, operating ina threaded orifice in its outer pendent arm and formed at the innerendof its shank with a ball 19, fitted within the socket of a conicalclampinghead 20, the base of which is adapted to bear against theperiphery of the wheel-rim 21.

In operation the clamps 5 12 are placed in position to straddle the edgeof the rim, the clamp 12 arranged at one side and the clamps '5 atdiametrically opposite sides about centrally of the rim and transverselywith relation to the said clamp 12, and then the clamping-screws areoperated to cause the clamps to tightly grip the rim. By now operatingthe screw-shaft 14.- to the right the arms 3 will be moved outwardly andthe rim expanded until it can be conveniently removed from the spokes22, and by imparting a reverse movement to the shaft the rim may becontracted and set upon the spokes with ease and facility. The provisionof the orifices 4 enables the clamps 5 to be adjusted for operation uponwheel-rims of different sizes, as will be readily understood.

The clamps 5 are each provided with lips or ears 5 to prevent lateral orsidewise tilting when applied to the rim. V

I desire it understood that I do not limit my invention to the specificconstruction and arrangements of parts herein shown and described, butreserve to myself the right to Ice make such changes and modificationsas fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new anduseful, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. An apparatus of the class described,comprising,in combination,awedge-block or head, a pair of expanding and contracting arms pivotedthereto, clamps adjustably connected with the free ends of said arms andprovided with pendent, parallel arms adapted to straddle a wheel-rim, aclamping-screw operatingin one of the parallel arms of each clamp andadapted to bear against the periphery of the wheel-rim, a bearingclampalso provided with parallel arms and a clamping-screw, and a screw-shaftoperating in said bearing-clamp and connected with said wedge-block orhead, substantially as described.

2. An apparatus of the class described,comprising, in combinatiomaWedge-block or head 3, expanding and contracting arms 1 2 pivoted attheir inner ends thereto and provided at their outer ends with a seriesof orifices 4, a pair of clamps 5 each provided with pendent, parallelarms 6 adapted to straddle a wheel-rim, a pivot-bearing adapted toengage either one of the said series of holes 4 in the said arms 1 2 anda clamping-screw, a bearing-clamp 12 provided with similar parallelflanges and a clamping-screw and also with a bearing-lug, and ascrew-shaft operating in said bearing-lug and connected with saidwedge-block or head, substantially as described.

3. An apparatus of the class described,comprising,in combination, awedge-block or head, a pair of expanding and contracting arms pivotedthereto and carrying adjustable clamps formed with pendent flanges orarms adapted to straddle and engage the inner and outer faces of aWheel-rim and with lateral lips or ears adapted to bear upon the side ofthe rim,

7 a bearing-clamp, and a screw-shaft operating in the bearing-clamp andconnected vwith said Wedge-block or head, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM H. OLAlVSON.

Witnesses:-

W. G. MoMAsrER, ALBERT SOHOONSON.

